For
Azerbaijanis, "Novruz" (translated as "new day"),
which celebrates the New Year and the arrival of Spring, is the
most ancient and cherished holiday on the Azeri calendar. Celebrated
on the day of the vernal equinox (March 20-21), Novruz represents
nature, renewal and fertility. Historians have said that the history
of Novruz goes back as far as 5,000 years, when ancient
Sumerians, Babylonians and Akkadians celebrated it. Other countries
in Central Asia such as Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz- stan, Uzbekistan,
Ka- zakhstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, also celebrate this special
holiday, although during the Soviet period it was given unofficial
status and even prohibited.

There are a number of age-old traditions with Novruz that Azerbai-
janis have maintained over the generations, and are now free to
celebrate publicly. Preparations for Novruz begin long before the
holiday with spring-cleaning, planting trees, making new clothes,
painting eggs, preparing national dishes such as shakarbura and
pakhlava, with the one essential item being "semeni" -
sprouts of wheat. Celebrations begin four weeks before the actual
day of festivity. Each Tuesday of these four weeks is devoted to
one of the four elements and is named accordingly, so there is Water
Tuesday, Flame Tuesday, Earth Tuesday and Wind Tuesday According
to folk lore, Water renews and refreshes nature, Fire is a symbol
of rebirth, Earth signifies the revival of the earth and Wind opens
the buds to announce the arrival of Spring.

Thus,
the celebrations begin with the first Tuesday, or Water Tuesday,
when most Azeris light small fires on the street, in courtyards
or gateways, as a tribute to fire-worshipping. Indeed, fires are
lit on each Tuesday preceding Novruz. On the last Tuesday, all members
of the Azerbaijani community are expected to jump over the fire
as an act of purification. On the eve of Novruz, families visit
the graves of relatives as an act of remembrance at this special
time and then, in the evening, the whole family gathers together
to enjoy the various traditional dishes. The holiday continues for
several days and ends with festive public dancing, folk bands and
sports contests.

The Novruz holiday is really a family time, a time when old disputes
are laid to rest, and distant relatives and friends visit to share
in the celebrations. Younger Azerbaijanis visit older and elderly
relatives, bringing them pakhlava and shakarbura to eat as well
as gifts. So Novruz signifies not only the New Year and arrival
of Spring but also represents unity, love and respect for old traditions
and customs.

As with Christmas in the West, Novruz is enjoyed particularly by
young children. They are given sweets and cookies as well as presents
and sometimes money or gold jewelry. They carry out traditional
games or tricks, such as laying a cap outside the door of a relative
or neighbor, knocking the door and then hiding until the cap is
filled with sweets by the person living there. Jumping over the
small fires is also a fun experience for children as well as adults.

So, in the true spirit of Spring, we wish Happy Novruz to you all!
May you have a long, healthy and prosperous life!